Seeing progress!

Hello all,

Thank you so much for the kind words and comments you send to Scott.  I'm sorry I haven't gotten to reply to all the wonderful comments, emails, cards, etc that you all are sending, but please know he is getting them and we are grateful!  They really do make him smile and feel good.

We are finally seeing progress today!  The pain medicines are starting to make a difference.  There are several of them, and the manner in which they are given is a carefully orchestrated regimen - but the Doctors know what they are doing.  One in particular, the Fentanyl nasal spray, makes a big difference in breakthrew pain control needed for a major push - like having to get through radiation.  And he did just that today - he got through radiation!  It was not easy on him, but it was much easier than yesterday.  He will hopefully continue to be able to receive his radiation treatments and we'll see the tumor starting to shrink soon.  This is radiation treatment 1 of 10 for the next two weeks.

He is also going to get an Epidural tomorrow.  It may take a couple days to fully take affect, but hopefully it will last for a couple days and help significantly.  The Doctors hope that by the time it starts to wear off, the tumor will have started to shrink and things well even out.

He's still running mild fevers on and off, but that is expected because of the tumor and the pain his body is fighting. 

Another positive piece of information is that Scott's pelvic bone with the tumor (the Ilium) still looks very good on xrays, considering there is a large tumor there.  What bone is there looks solid and strong and that means that the bone should be successful in filling back in once the radiation starts shrinking the tumor.  Also, if the tumor responds well to the radiation, they may be able to radiate the liver tumors.  Scott's type of Cancer typically responds well to radiation - unfortunately, other types of Sarcomas do not.  Getting back on chemo is still the major goal.

Neil is still at the hospital with Scott.  I don't know what I would do without Neil and Holly - it's truly a team effort.  Neil stays overnight with him when I have to come home and take care of the dogs and does everything for Scott.  Holly is doing all the administrative work to research and apply for clinical trials.  If I had to do that, I would manage, but I'm so grateful she is taking care of that.  She is also taking many calls for updates that I cannot get too.  Another big thank you to her and my friends that are helping take out the dogs during the day.  We very much appreciate it.

Sending our love,
Scott and Amy